Tom Hiddleston’s casting in Avengers: Doomsday provides some hints at Loki’s role in the MCU movie’s plot. Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement confirmed the return of twenty-seven Marvel actors and their respective characters, such as the Thunderbolts, the Fantastic Four, some of the Avengers, and Fox’s original X-Men cast. Many MCU characters are still missing from Avengers: Doomsday‘s cast, including Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange, Ryan Reynolds’ ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool, Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, and Tom Holland’s Spider-Man.

One of the biggest surprises in Avengers: Doomsday‘s cast announcement was Tom Hiddleston’s return as Loki. Loki season 2’s ending saw Loki sacrifice his freedom in order to stabilize the Sacred Timeline in the throne at the end of time. Becoming the God of Stories, Loki seemed to have welcomed the idea of sitting outside of time and space forever — his long-cherished burden of “glorious purpose.” However, only four years after Loki season 2 ended, Tom Hiddleston’s Loki appears to be getting involved in yet another conflict. Loki’s return may have certain unexpected implications.

We Can Finally Get The Loki-Thor Reunion We’ve Always Wanted

Loki’s Promise To Reunite With Thor May Be Fulfilled In Avengers: Doomsday

When Thanos cornered Loki in Avengers: Infinity War, Loki told Thor, “I ᴀssure you brother, the sun will shine on us again.” Tom Hiddleston’s original Loki died a definitive and irreversible death as soon as Thanos broke his neck, and another Loki variant started his own redemption arc when Thor and the other Avengers made a small mistake during their Time Heist in Avengers: Endgame. Now, Avengers: Doomsday is the first MCU project to feature both Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston in its cast since Avengers: Endgame, which opens the possibility of seeing Thor and Loki cross paths again.

Thor lost Odin, Frigga, Heimdall, Loki, and all of Asgard within a very short period, and Tom Hiddleston’s second Loki variant lost his freedom in a matter of seconds. After Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Loki, both Thor and Loki are missing their families. Thor came to terms with his recent tragedies in Thor: Love and Thunder, and Loki found his true purpose in Loki season 2. Still, Thor and Loki must be secretly yearning to reunite with each other, and Avengers: Doomsday could fulfill that dream — though both gods technically aren’t the same people they knew and loved.

Loki’s Role Is More Important Than Just A Thor Reunion, Though

Loki May Now Be The Most Important Hero In The Avengers: Doomsday Cast

Whereas the original Loki used to be the biggest threat to Earth in The Avengers and the reason many Asgardians died in Avengers: Infinity War, Tom Hiddleston’s new Loki variant is now the protector of the whole Marvel multiverse. Without Loki, the entire Sacred Timeline would have collapsed, and the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and the Avengers’ universes would have ceased to exist. In theory, every following project after Loki season 2 should take place within the Sacred Timeline, but the fact that Tom Hiddleston is returning for Avengers: Doomsday suggests that Loki’s sacrifice will be affected by Doctor Doom’s arrival.

Whether Loki takes an active role in the fight against Doctor Doom or simply witnesses the villain’s multiversal attack, the Sacred Timeline’s stability will certainly be threatened by Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. Considering Avengers: Doomsday will be followed by Avengers: Secret Wars in a similar way to Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Loki’s new Sacred Timeline seems very likely to be changed, stolen, or even destroyed by Doctor Doom before Avengers: Doomsday‘s credits roll. In the best-case scenario, Loki will be unable to stop Doctor Doom from destroying many branches of the Sacred Timeline.

Will Loki Survive Avengers: Doomsday?

Doctor Doom’s Multiversal Goals Are A Direct Threat To Loki

Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom will probably have very similar motivations to those of Marvel Comics’ God Emperor Doom. Aiming to conquer and reshape the multiverse to his image, Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom is very likely to set his sights on Loki’s throne at the end of time. If he’s able to reach the TVA and access Loki’s spot, Doctor Doom could kill Loki and rip the Sacred Timeline off his hands in order to take over the Marvel multiverse. Besides, if Marvel Studios is adapting Marvel Comics’ Battleworld in Avengers: Secret Wars, the destruction or reshaping of Loki’s Sacred Timeline is almost certain.

Loki’s death seems almost necessary for Doctor Doom’s plans in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. But while Loki’s death would cement Doctor Doom as a scarier villain than Thanos, it would be a disservice to Tom Hiddleston’s character. Whereas Hiddleston’s first Loki failed to escape his trickster nature, his second Loki variant fully redeemed himself and paid the price to become a hero. Loki’s decision to hold the Sacred Timeline at the end of Loki season 2 is the perfect farewell to the God of Stories — an even better ending than a heroic death. Bringing back God of Stories Loki just to kill him off or undo his sacrifice might not sit well with fans.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

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  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Spider-Man: Brand New Day

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  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

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  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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